Ring counter

ABSTRACT

An electronic ring counter driven by a source of pulses and having controls to bypass some of the stages of the ring counter, each stage employing a single transistor.

United States Patent 1 1 Freeman 1541 RING COUNTER [75] Inventor: Alfred B. Freeman, Malibu, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Chicago Musical Instruments Co.,

Chicago, Ill.

[22] Filed: Jan. 4, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 103,675

Related U.S. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 699,149, Jan. 19, 1968, Pat. No.

[52] U.S. Cl ..307/223, 328/43 [51] Int. Cl. .,H03k 23/08 [58] Field of Search ..307/223; 328/43, 45, 46

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,324,311 6/1967 Jenkinson ..307/223 2,521,788 9/1950 Grosdoff ..328/45 51 Feb. 13, 1973 2,540,442 2/1951 Grosdoif ..328/45 2,552,781 5/1951 Hadfield ..328/45 2,584,811 2/1952 Phelps ..328/46 2,620,440 12/1952 Baker et a1. ..328/43 2,647,997 8/1953 Williams ...328/45 3,142,780 7/1964 Rich ...328/45 3,437,832 4/1969 Kopetski. ..307/223 3,593,034 7/1971 Omote ..307/289 2,912,596 11/1959 Huang ..307/221 R 2,848,628 8/1958 Altschul. ..307/223 R 2,906,890 9/1959 Odell .307/221 R Primary Examiner-.lohn S. l-leyman Assistant Examiner-R. E. Hart Attorney-Hill, Sherman, Meroni, Gross 81. Simpson [57] ABSTRACT An electronic ring counter driven by a source of pulses and having controls to bypass some of the stages of the ring counter, each stage employing a single transistor.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures RING COUNTER This application is a division of my copending application for U. S. Pat., Ser. No. 699,149, filed Jan. 19, 1968, now U. S. Pat. No. 3,553,334.

,This invention is directed to a ring counter, such as for use in an electronic rhythm producing sound device for automatically generating sounds in rhythmic patterns for use alone or in accompaniment with other musical instruments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS I FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing generally the circuit arrangement of a rhythm sound producing device embodying a ring counter constructed in accordance with principles of this invention; and

FIG. 2 is divided into two segments designated FIGS. 2a and 2b and shows a detailed schematic diagram of the circuit arrangement of the time-point generator including the ring counter of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 is a diagram of a musical rhythm sound producing device embodying a ring counter constructed according to this invention. The device includes a time-point generator (utilizing a ring counter which produces a plurality of sequential spaced apart pulses which may correspond to the sequential spacing of a line or bar of written music. The time-point generator 10 includes a tempo oscillator 11 the frequency of which is selectively variable by a potentiometer 12. The potentiometer 12 is connected to a voltage divider network 13 comprising a resistor 14 and a potentiometer 16. The potentiometer 16 is used to calibrate the voltage applied to the tempo oscillator, thereby calibrating the range of frequency of oscillation.

The output of the tempo oscillator 11 is delivered to a beat divider network 17 and to one of a plurality of pulse amplifiers designated generally at 18. A switch 19 is connected to the beat divider network 17 to selectively change the voltage applied to a portion of the beat divider network, thereby enabling the network 17 to divide by four or divide by three as desired. The output of the beat divider network 17 is delivered to certain ones of theplurality of pulse amplifiers l8 and to the input of a ring counter 20, the network 17 serving as an exemplary source of pulses.

The ring counter 20 is a direct-coupled self-biasing circuit which, in the preferred embodiment, has eight stages. The ring counter 20 may have more or less than eight stages.

The ring counter 20 is biased such that seven of the eight stages are conducting in the saturated mode of operation and one stage is non-conducting at all times. A pulse from the beat divider network 17 will cause the non-conducting stage to become conductive and the following stage to become non-conductive.

The eight stages of the ring counter are divided into two groups, one group containing the odd number stages and the other group containing the even number stages.

Connected to the ring counter 20 is a time switch 21 which enables the ring counter to generate a 4/4 4 time or a three-fourths time depending upon the type of rhythm being reproduced by the rhythm sound generator. By way of example, the ring counter 20 is an eight stage counter wherein the output of the last stage is fed back to the input of the first stage thereby allowing the ninth pulse from the beat divider network 17 to restart the count-by-eight cycle. With the time switch 21 in the open position, as shown on the drawing, the ring counter will produce eight pulses in sequence. However, when the time switch 21 is in the closed position, the first two stages of the ring counter are bypassed, thereby convening the ring counter into a count-by-six circuit. This feature enables the ring counter 20 to generate both 4/4 4 and three-fourths time counts for the various types of music being reproduced.

The plurality of outputs of the ring counter 20 are connected to still another group of pulse amplifiers l8 and to a bar counter 22. Each time the ring counter 20 produces the eighth pulse of the count by eight sequences of operation, it generates an output pulse at the input of the bar counter 20. The output of the bar counter is decoded by a series of logic circuits and applied to a matrix assembly 23. Also connected to the bar counter 20 is a reset switch 24 which resets the bar counter to the zero count.

Also connected to the matrix assembly 23 are the outputs of the pulse amplifiers 18. The matrix assembly 23 is constructed primarily of resistors which are direct current coupled to the pulse amplifiers and bar counter.

The output of the matrix assembly 23 is connected to a selector switch assembly 26 and therefrom to an instrument sound generator 27. The selector switch 26 connects the proper matrices within the matrix assembly 23 to the respective ones of a plurality of instrument driver circuits 28. The instrument driver circuits 28 are connected to one or more of a plurality of instrument generator circuits 29. The output of the instrument generator circuits are then applied to mixing amplifiers 30.

The output of the mixing amplifiers is connected to an audio amplifier (not shown) through a coupling circuit comprising a voltage divider network which is formed by resistor 31 and a potentiometer. A capacitor 33 has one end thereof connected to the movable contactor of the potentiometer 32 and the other end thereof connected to one end of the resistance element of the potentiometer 32. The audio signal passing through the capacitor 33 and the movable contactor of the potentiometer 32 is delivered to a shielded cable 34 through a resistor 36 and a coupling capacitor 37. The output of the mixing amplifiers 30 is connected to the coupling circuit through a shielded cable 38. Connected to the junction of the movable contact of the potentiometer 32 and the capacitor 33 is a switch 39 which is connected to ground potential. When the switch 39 is closed, the audio signal from the mixing amplifiers 30 is grounded to mute the output of the rhythm sound device.

FIG. 2 is a detailed schematic diagram of the timepoint generator 10 of FIG. 1 and is divided into two segments FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b. The tempo oscillator 11 is designated generally on FIG. 2 by reference numeral 40 and its construction and operation are described in detail in the parent application. The tempo oscillator comprises the components 41-44.

The tempo oscillator is operated as a free-running unijunction relaxation oscillator which produces pulses at its outlet. A potentiometer 46 is connected to a voltage divider network 47 comprising a potentiometer 48 and a resistor 49, which jointly correspond to the elements 12-16. The pulses produced by the tempo oscillator are the basic timing signals for the musical rhythm sound producing device. By varying the resistance of the potentiometer 46, the operating frequency of the oscillator is changed. The maximum frequency of the tempo oscillator 41 is pre-adjusted by the calibration resistor 48.

Pulse signal information is taken from the emitter junction of the transistor 41 and delivered to a pulse amplifier stage 50. The pulse amplifier stage 50 comprises one of the pulse amplifiers 18, shown in FIG. 1, and comprises the components 51-56, whose construction and operation are described in detail in the parent application. A pulse signal is thus obtained at the output terminal T All of the pulse amplifiers used in the time-point generator are constructed and operate in substantially the same manner as that of the pulse amplifier 50.

The pulse signal information developed across the load resistor 42 of the tempo oscillator circuit 40 is delivered to the first of a series of divider networks or flip-flop circuits 57, 58, 59, and 60. Each ofthe flipflop circuits 57-60 is constructed and operates in substantiaily the same manner and include elements 61-70 coupled together by coupling capacitors 71-74, as set forth in the parent application.

The flip-flop stages 57-60 are each a two-stage direct-coupled amplifier with positive feedback. Two pulses applied to the input of the flip-flop stage will produce a single pulse at the output thereof. As each stage 57-60 operates in the same manner, the total division accomplished by the stages between the tempo oscillator and the output of stage 60 is 16.

The output of flip-flop stage 58 is coupled to the input of stage 59 and to a pulse amplifier circuit 76 through a coupling capacitor 77 and a resistor 78. The pulse amplifier circuit 76 operates in substantially the same manner as that of the pulse amplifier circuit 50. A negative going pulse at the output of flip-flop stage 58 will render the transistor of the pulse amplifier 76 nonconductive to produce a positive going pulse at the output terminal T thereof. Similarly, the output of flipflop stage 59 is coupled to the input of stage 60 and to a pulse amplifier stage 79 to produce a pulse at the output terminal T of the pulse amplifier. Also, the output of flip-flop stage 60 is coupled to a pulse amplifier stage 82 through a coupling capacitor 83 and a resistor 84 to produce a pulse at the output terminal T, of the pulse amplifier 82. The flip-flop stage 60 has a second output terminal thereof connected to a pulse amplifier stage 86 through a coupling capacitor 87 and a resistor 88, and to a feedback amplifier circuit 89. The feedback amplifier 89 is connected to the second output of flipflop stage 60 through a resistor 90, and therefore is direct current coupled-to the flip-flop stage 60. The output of the feedback amplifier 89 is connected to the input of one of the transistors of the flip-flop stage 59 through a coupling capacitor 91 and a resistor92.

The feedback amplifier 89 includes a transistor 93 which has the base electrode thereof connected to a positive voltage source through a biasing resistor 94. Also connected to the positive voltage source is the collector electrode of transistor 93 through a load resistor 96. The base of transistor 93 is connected to the triplet switch 19, shown in FIG. 1, through a resistor 97. The operation of the feedback amplifier is detailed in the parent application.

in operation, when the triplet switch 19 is in the closed position, the last two flip-flop stages 59 and 60 operate in their normal mode to divide by four. 0n the other hand, when the switch 19, of FIG. 1 is in the open position, the total count capacity of the last two flipflops 59 and 60 is reduced from four counts to three counts. The output of the last flip-flop stage 60 is then non-symmetrical in a ration of 2:1 or divided at third intervals rather than in halves.

The pulses produced at the output of flip-flop stage 60 are applied to circuit points 98 and 99, which are connected to circuit points 980 and 99a which are signal input terminals of an eight stage ring counter. Although the present embodiment is an eight stage ring counter, a ring counter having any number of stages may be provided in accordance with the principles of this invention.

According to this invention a single transistor is used in each stage of the ring counter 20. The ring counter 20 comprises transistors 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, and 107. The emitter electrode of each transistor is connected to ground potential. while the collector electrode thereof is connected to a positive voltage source through a corresponding load resistor 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114 and 115 respectively. lt will be noted that each stage of the ring counter is constructed in substantially the same manner.

The circuit point 98a from the output of the beat divider network 60, is connected to the base electrodes of transistors 100, 102, 104, and 106 through corresponding resistors 116, 117, 118, and 119 respectively. Similarly, the circuit point 99a is connected to the base electrode of transistor 10], 103, 105, and 107 through corresponding resistors 120, 121, 122, and 123 respectively.

The collector electrode of transistor is coupled to the base electrode of transistor 101 through a resistor 124 and a capacitor 126, while the collector electrode of transistor 101 is coupled to the base electrode of transistor 102 through a resistor 127 and a capacitor 128. The outputs of the remaining transistors 102-107 are coupled to the corresponding down stage transistors through resistive capacitive networks comprising resistors 129, 131, 133, 136, 138, and 140 and capacitors 130, 132, 134, 137, 139, and 141 respectively.

The collector of transistor 100 is direct current coupl'ed to the base electrode of transistors 102, 104, and 106 through resistors 142, 143, and 144 respectively. The collector of transistor 101 is direct current coupled to the base electrode of transistors 103, 105, and 107 through resistors 146, 147, and 148 respectively. The collector of transistor 102 is direct current coupled to the base electrode of transistors 100, 104, and 106 through resistors 149, 150, and 151 respectively. The collector of transistor 103 is direct current coupled to the base electrode of transistors 101, and 107 through resistors 152, 153 and 154 respectively. The

collector electrode of transistor 104 is direct current coupled to the base electrode of transistors 100, 102, and 106 through resistors 157, 156 and 158 respectively. The collector electrode of transistor 105 is direct current coupled to the base electrode of transistors 101, 103, and 107 through resistors 160, 159 and 161 respectively. Similarly, the collector electrode of transistor 106 is direct current coupled to the base electrode of transistors 100, 102, and 104 through resistors 164, 163, and 162 respectively, and the collector electrode of transistors 107 is direct current cou pled to the base electrode of transistors 101, 103 and 105 through resistors 168, 167 and 166 respectively. It will be noted that the output of the last resistor 107 is coupled back to the input of the first transistor 100 through the resistor 140 and capacitor 141.

In operation, the biasing of each of the transistors 100-l07 of the ring counter is arranged such that seven of the transistors are operated in the saturated mode of operation while only one of the transistors is non-conductive. The transistors 100, 102, 104, and 106 form one group of count circuits while transistors 101, 103, 105, and 107 form a second group of count circuits. In each group of transistors the base electrode of each transistor is connected to the collector electrodes of the other three transistors in the group. The interconnecting resistors and the collector load resistor of each stage in the group are sized such that any three stages of the group will be held in the saturated mode of operation if the remaining stage is in the cut off condition. The transistor which is in the cut off mode of operation will remain cut off as long as the collector voltage of the remaining three saturated transistors remains below the voltage necessary to bias the transistor on.

Each base electrode of transistors 100-107 is coupled to the circuit points 98a and 99a to receive drive pulses therefrom. The drive pulses are developed at the output of the flip-flop stage 60 of the beat dividers. When the second stage of the flip-flop 60 is in the saturated mode of operation, substantially no drive pulse is delivered to the non-conductive transistor of the group of transistors 100, 102, 104 and 106. On the other hand, when the second stage of flip-flop circuit 60 is rendered non-conductive, a positive pulse is applied to the circuit point 98a to drive the non-conductive transistor of the group 100, 102, 104, and 106 into the saturated mode of operation thereby placing all of the transistors in the group in the saturated mode. Therefore, the transistor being rendered conductive produces an output pulse through the resistor capacitor coupling network between each of the transistor stages, and the following stage, which is one of the transistors of the second group, is rendered conductive. That is, when the voltage on the circuit points 980 and 99a causes a previously cut off transistor to be rendered conductive, the drop in collector voltage, applied through the resistor capacitor coupling network to the base of the succeeding saturated transistor, will cause this transistor to be cut off. As the voltage on the circuit point 99a is removed due to the saturated condition of the first stage of flip-flop circuit 60, the stage which is rendered non-conductive remains non-conductive and holds the other transistors in the group in the saturated mode of operation.

The non-conductive mode of operation is then shifted from one transistor to another and from one group to another as the output of flip-flop circuit 60 changes state. That is, the stage in each group of transistors of the ring counter becomes non-conductive in turn in response to the successive output pulses of the flip-flop circuit 60. During the time each of the transistors is non-conductive, the voltage on the collector electrode thereof goes positive while the voltage developed at the base electrode thereof goes negative. Therefore, either of the voltages developed at each of the transistor stages of the ring counter can be used as an output pulse.

In each of the resistor capacitor coupling networks between the successive transistors of the ring counter, the resistor functions as a voltage divider with the resistance networks connected to the base of the preceding stage such that the voltage swing at the base is a fraction of the voltage swing of the collector. The collector voltage swing is thus allowed to be several times the maximum base emitter reverse voltage rating which is quite small in some transistors. This circuit arrangement allows the voltage at the collector electrode to rise sharply when the transistor is cut off. This action drives the other transistors in the group more quickly into the saturated mode of operation and reduces the possibility of spurious operation.

The number of stages in the ring counter can be increased or decreased by changing the number of stages in each group. Also, the ring counter can be arranged such that all but one of the transistors is in the saturated mode.

The output of transistor is connected to a terminal T and to a pulse amplifier which, in turn, is connected to a terminal T The transistor 101 is connected to a terminal T and to a pulse amplifier 171 which, in turn, is connected to a terminal T The transistor 102 is connected to a terminal T and to a pulse amplifier 172 which, in turn, is connected to a terminal T The transistor 103 is connected to a terminal T and to a pulse amplifier 173 which, in turn, is connected to a terminal T Similarly, transistors 104, 105, 106 and 107 are connected to terminal T T T and T and to pulse amplifiers 174, 176, 177 and 178 respectively. The pulse amplifiers 174, 176, 177 and 178 are connected to output terminals T, T T and T respectively. At each of the output terminals represented by a square, there is produced a gating pulse while at each of the output terminals represented by a circle there is produced a pulse signal output. The terminals T T are arranged for direct current coupling to one or more matrices of the matrix assembly 23, shown in FIG. 1. Also, each of the pulse amplifiers 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 176, 177 and 178 is constructed and operate in substantially the same manner as the pulse amplifier 50 connected to the tempo oscillator 40.

The output of the last transistor 107 of the ring counter is connected to the base electrode of transistor 102 through a line 179, a capacitor 180, the switch 21, shown in FIG. 1, and a resistor 181. When the switch 21 is in the closed position, connecting resistor 181 to capacitor 180, the feedback of transistor 107 is coupled to transistor 102 rather than to transistor 100 thereby decreasing the numerical size of the ring counter from eight stages to six stages. This feature enables the time-point generator of the present invention to produce both 4/4 4 time pulses and threefourths time pulses necessary for musical arrangements by using the same electronic circuitry.

The output of the last transistor 107 of the ring counter is also coupled to the input of a series of flipflop circuits 182, 183, and 184. The flip-flop circuits 182-184 are constructed in substantially the same manner as flip-flop circuit 58 and operate similarly thereto.

The first stage of flip-flop circuit 182 is direct current coupled to a terminal T and to the base of two transistors 186 and 187 through resistors 188 and 189 respectively. The transistors 186 and 187 form NAND gate circuits. The output of the second stage of the flipflop circuit 182 is connected to a terminal T The first stage of the flip-flop circuit 183 is direct current coupled to transistor 186 through a resistor 190 and to transistor 187 through a resistor 191. The second stage of the flip-flop circuit 183 is capacitively coupled to the input of flip-flop circuit 184. The first stage of flip-flop circuit 184 is direct current coupled to transistor 187 through a resistor 192.

The output of transistor 187 is direct current coupled to the base electrode of a transistor 193 through a resistor 194. The transistors 186, 187, and 193 are connected to a positive voltage source through load resistors 196, 197, and 198 respectively. The pulse or gate voltage developed at the load resistors is applied to terminals T T and T The output pulse developed at terminal T will be opposite that developed at terminal T due to the circuit arrangement of transistors 187 and 193. When transistor 187 is in the saturated mode of operation, transistor 193 is cut off thereby producing a positive pulse at terminal T On the other hand, when transistor 187 is cut off, bias is applied to transistor 193 sufficient to cause the transistor to be saturated and thereby' applying ground potential or negative gate pulse to terminal T The output of the second stage of the flip-flop circuit 182 and the output of the first stages of flip-flop circuits 183 and 184 are connected to a switching circuit 199 through diodes 200, 201, and 202. The switching circuit 199 includes a transistor 203 which has its emitter electrode connected to ground potential and the base electrode thereof connected to a positive voltage source through a resistor 204. The collector electrode of transistor 203 is connected to the positive voltage source through a load resistor 206. A capacitor 207 is connected across the bias resistor 204. The base electrode of transistor 203 is connected to the reset switch 24, of FIG. 1 through a resistor 208.

Closing the switch 24 resets the flip-flop stages 182-184 which form the bar counters.

The bar counter formed by the three flip-flops 182-484 has a total count capacity of eight which is a musically correct bar structure. Each time the ring counter produces an output pulse at the last stage thereof it triggers the first flip-flop stage 182 of the bar counter. Flip-flop circuits 183 and 184 follow the first stage 182 and accumulate a total of eight different states of operation. In this way the bar counter keeps track of the number of cycles through which the ring counter passes up to eight cycles and then repeats the operation. The output of the bar counter is described by the NAND gates connected thereto to produce positive gate pulses during every second, fourth, and eighth bar. These gates are used to effect electrical changes in the matrix assembly 23, of FIG. 1, to introduce pattern changes during every second, fourth and eighth bar.

Since a musical flourish usually occurs during the eighth bar, the bar counter is reset to the seventh bar position. This is accomplished by pulling the appropriate collectors of the flip-flop circuits 182, 183, and 184 down through diodes 200,. 201, and 202 to force the bar counter to assume the seventh bar position. The operation of the reset drive for the flip-flop circuits 182-184 is further explained in the parent application.

A transistor 210 is connected to the last transistor 107 of the ring counter through a resistor 211. The transistor 210 is connected to a transistor 212 and to a lamp 213. The transistor 210 and 212 and lamp 213 form an indicating circuit which produces a visual light pulse during predetermined time intervals. The light pulse is used as a downbeat indicator for the person who is using the rhythm sound device for accompaniment. Transistors 210 and 212 are arranged in a Darlington configuration to develop a high gain.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed herein in detail, it will be understood that variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of this invention.

lclaim:

l. A ring counter for counting successive pulse signals, comprising:

a. at least three stages connected in a ring, each of said stages comprising: 1. a single bipolar transistor, said transistor being the sole active element in said stage,

a set of resistors connecting the collector of said transistor to the bases of the transistors of the other stages,

3. a reactive coupling from the collector of said transistor to the base of the succeeding transistor,

. a resistive load connected to the collector of said transistor and adapted to be connected to a source of potential, and

5. the emitter of said transistor being connected to a voltage reference,

whereby all but one of the transistors remains conductive; and

b. input terminal means coupled to the bases of said transistors for receiving the pulse signals, said one transistor when nonconductive being always rendered conductive in response to the next one of said pulse signals, and the following transistor being thereby rendered nonconductive so that one count is obtained each time that any of said stages becomes nonconductive; and output terminal means coupled to at least one of said stages.

2. A ring counter forcounting successive pulse signals, comprising:

a. an even number of at least four stages connected in a ring, alternate ones of the successive stages comprising a first group and the other stages comprising a second group, each of said stages comprising:

1. a single bipolar transistor, said transistor being the sole active element in said stage,

2. a set of resistors connecting the collector of said transistor to the bases of the transistors of the other stages in the same group,

3. a reactive coupling from the collector of said transistor to the base of the succeeding transistor in the other group,

4. a resistive load connected to the collector of said transistor and adapted to be connected to a source of potential, and

5. the emitter of said transistor being connected to a voltage reference, whereby all but one of the transistors remains conductive; and b. two input terminal means coupled to the bases of said transistors for receiving the pulse signals, said one transistor when nonconductive being always rendered conductive in response to the next one of said pulse signals, and the following transistor being thereby rendered nonconductive so that one count is obtained each time that any of said stages becomes nonconductive; and

output terminal means coupled to at least one of said stages.

3. A ring counter according to claim 2 wherein the total number of transistors in the ring counter is eight and the total count capacity is eight, and further including circuit means connected between the last of said transistors and the third transistor for changing the count capacity from eight to six. 

1. A ring counter for counting successive pulse signals, comprising: a. at least three stages connected in a ring, each of said stages comprising:
 1. a single bipolar transistor, said transistor being the sole active element in said stage,
 2. a set of resistors connecting the collector of said transistor to the bases of the transistors of the other stages,
 3. a reactive coupling from the collector of said transistor to the base of the succeeding transistor,
 4. a resistive load connected to the collector of said transistor and adapted to be connected to a source of potential, and
 5. the emitter of said transistor being connected to a voltage reference, whereby all but one of the transistors remains conductive; and b. input terminal means coupled to the bases of said transistors for receiving the pulse signals, said one transistor when nonconductive being always rendered conductive in response to the next one of said pulse signals, and the following transistor being thereby rendered nonconductive so that one count is obtained each time that any of said stages becomes nonconductive; and c. output terminal means coupled to at least one of said stages.
 1. a single bipolar transistOr, said transistor being the sole active element in said stage,
 1. A ring counter for counting successive pulse signals, comprising: a. at least three stages connected in a ring, each of said stages comprising:
 1. a single bipolar transistor, said transistor being the sole active element in said stage,
 2. a set of resistors connecting the collector of said transistor to the bases of the transistors of the other stages,
 2. A ring counter for counting successive pulse signals, comprising: a. an even number of at least four stages connected in a ring, alternate ones of the successive stages comprising a first group and the other stages comprising a second group, each of said stages comprising:
 2. a set of resistors connecting the collector of said transistor to the bases of the transistors of the other stages in the same group,
 4. a resistive load connected to the collector of said transistor and adapted to be connected to a source of potential, and
 4. a resistive load connected to the collector of said transistor and adapted to be connected to a source of potential, and
 5. the emitter of said transistor being connected to a voltage reference, whereby all but one of the transistors remains conductive; and b. input terminal means coupled to the bases of said transistors for receiving the pulse signals, said one transistor when nonconductive being always rendered conductive in response to the next one of said pulse signals, and the following transistor being thereby rendered nonconductive so that one count is obtained each time that any of said stages becomes nonconductive; and c. output terminal means coupled to at least one of said stages.
 5. the emitter of said transistor being connected to a voltage reference, whereby all but one of the transistors remains conductive; and b. two input terminal means coupled to the bases of said transistors for receiving the pulse signals, said one transistor when nonconductive being always rendered conductive in response to the next one of said pulse signals, and the following transistor being thereby rendered nonconductive so that one count is obtained each time that any of said stages becomes nonconductive; and c. output terminal means coupled to at least one of said stages. 